Distributor rotor



Aprll 15, 1952 B. H. SHORT ETAL 2,593,205

DISTRIBUTOR ROTOR Filed March 15, 1949 Patented Apr. 15, 1952 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE DISTRIBUTOR. ROTOR Application March 15, 1949,Serial No. 81,432

3 Claims.

This invention relates to rotors for ignition distributors usedparticularly on automotive vehicles.

An object of the invention is to provide certain improvements in theconstruction of a distributor rotor having a radio interferencesuppressing resistance in the form of a rod of carbon or other suitableresistance material. The rotor provides for easy assembly of theresistance element in series with a metal distributing segment and aconductor which provides a centrally located button for engaging thecenter terminal of the distributor cap with which the high tensionterminal of the ignition coil is connected. The rotor provides also forthe easy assembly of this conductor.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a rotor constructed in accordance with thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof in the direction of arrow 2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views on an enlarged scale takenrespectively on line 3 3, 4 4 and 5 5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is also asectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the distributor cap and also thedistributor rotor in section on line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlargement of a portion of the rotor within the dot-dashcircle 1 of Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is a plan view on enlarged scale of the conductor 30 before beingbent as'shown in Fig. 5;

Figs. 9 and 10 are enlarged scale plan and side views respectively of arotor segment.

Referring to Fig. 6 a distributor cap 20 adapted to cover a housing (notshown) which supports a rotary timer cam 2 I, provides a centralterminal socket 22 adapted for connection with the cable connected withthe high tension terminal of an ignition coil and a circular row ofsockets 23 each adapted to be connected with a cable connected with aspark plug. Each socket 23 provides a post 24 past which there rotates ametal segment 25 supported by a non-conducting rotor body 26 having ahub 21 which fits upon extension 28 of cam 2| and is drivingly connectedtherewith through a lug 29.

The block 26 carries a conductor 30 providing a contact button 3| forengaging a fixed contact 32 attached to the terminal socket 22. Theconductor 30 is originally shaped to provide portions (o1. 12s-14s) 33and 34 at right angles as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 8. Portion 34 providesthe button 3|. A hole 35 is provided in these portions to facilitatebending one relative to the other. The portion 33 is punched out andpartially sheared at 36 to provide notched resilient tanks 31 and isshaped to provide an ear 38 which extends downwardly as viewed in Figs.3 and 5. The portion 33 of conductor 30 is received between parallelribs 39. A central stud 40 provided by the rotor body 26 is slightlylarger in diameter than the spacing of the tangs 31 of the conductor 30.Therefore, when the conductor is assembled with the rotor body the tangs31 are deflected upwardly and the edges thereof engage the stud 40, inorder to retain the conductor upon the body. Angular displacement of thebody is prevented by the ribs 39. Before or after the conductor 30 isassembled with the body 26, the portion 34 is bent relative to theportion 33 so that the angle between these portions Will be about 20.Bending takes place around a rod represented by the circle 4| in Fig. 5.

The distributor segment 25 comprises a horizontal portion 45 havinganges 46 and a vertical portion 41 having a flange 48. The segment 25 isan insert in the mold in which the body 26 is molded. The anges 46 and48 assist in anchoring the segment in the molded material. The moldedbody 26 provides a groove portion 50 having a cylindrical side wall anda deeper portion 5| bounded by spaced iiat walls 52 and 53,

the latter' extending slightly to the right of the surface 41a (Fig. 3)of the vertical portion 41 of the segment 25. The deeper portion 5|provides for the reception of a rotary end-milling cutter applied to thesurface 41a to remove any molded material clinging thereto.

The groove portions 50 and 5| receive a suppressor' resistancepreferably a carbon rod which is copper plated on its ends only and hasa resistance of approximately 10,000 ohms. Before the rod is assembled afew drops of adhesive cement are placed in the groove portion 50. Thenormal spacing of the extreme right end of the ear 38 with respect tothe surface 41a of segment 25 is slightly less than the length of therod 60. Therefore, when the rod 60 is assembled as shown i'n Fig. 3, theear 38 is bent slightly in a clockwise direction so that it exertspressure upon the left end of rod 60 and causes the right end thereof topress against the surface 41a of segment 25, thus making a satisfactoryconnection between the conductor 30 and the segment 25. The adhesive ispreferably a composition of phenolic resin and rubber known ascycleweld. After assembling the rod 60 with the body 26, the rotor isplaced in a heated oven to set the cement quickly.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A distributor rotor comprising a body of molded insulating materialhaving a hub which provides for connection with a shaft which rotates itand an arm extending substantially radially from the hub and providing agroove located transversely to the axis of vrotation of the rotor andhaving its inner end located near the periphery of the hub and its outerend located near the outer end of the arm, a leaf spring memberproviding a resilient arm carrying a Contact button located insubstantial alignment with the rotor axis and a resilient ear 1ofcate'din the innerv end portion of'the groove, *means provided bythe memberand hub for securing the member to the hub with its parts thus located,a metal, distributing segment anchored inthe rotor and having a surfaceexposed in the outer end portion of the groove; and a rod of resistancematerial secured within the groove and located between and in contactwith the ear and the segment surface exposed in the groove.

"l 2. A distributor rotor comprising a body of A"molded insulatingmaterial having a hub which provides for connection with a shaft whichrotates it andhaving a flat face transverse to its 'axis of rotation andspaced parallel ribs and a boss, between the ribs, the boss and ribsextending from the at lface, and having an arm extending outwardly fromthe hub and having f a groove, the inner end of which terminates be-;tween the ribs near one side of the rotor and 4 engaging the boss toretain the member, and said member having an arm portion providing acontact button in substantial alignment with the rotor axis and having aresilient ear extending into the inner end portion of the groove, and arod of resistance material secured within the groove and locatedbtweenand in contact with the ear and the segment surface exposed in thegroove.

3. An ignition rotor comprising, a molded body of insulating material,said body having an integral stud disposed between spaced integral ribson the top face of the body and having a transverse groove; a metaldistributing segment embedded in the body and having one end exposed atthe periphery of the body and having the other end exposed within thegroove; a removable leaf spring supported on the stud and disposedbetween the ribs to prevent the spring from turning relative to thebody, said spring having an integral resilient ear projecting angularlyinto the groove;` a rod of resistance material disposed within thegroove and `having its opposite ends bearing against the exposedsurfaces of the segment and the ear within the groove to establish anelectrical connection'therebetween; and hardened material disposed inthe groove for maintaining the rod therein, the material when insoftened condition being placed in the groove and then heated to set thematerial.

BROOKS H. SHORT.

EDNA M. FITZSIMMONS, Executrix of the Estate of John T. Fitzsimmons,

Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the le of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain- Nov. 26, 19'40

